ABUJA, Nigeria — Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North in Nigeria’s National Assembly, has accused a group of individuals — including his wife’s family and a Nollywood actress — of orchestrating a campaign to discredit him, alleging they exploited his wife’s health struggles to damage his reputation and political standing.
In a statement released on Sunday through his communications team, Mr. Nwoko said that his wife, actress Regina Daniels, had long battled substance use and that efforts to support her rehabilitation were sabotaged by those closest to her. He named her mother, Uche Nancy, and actress Uche Montana among those he claims brought drugs to Ms. Daniels during treatment.
“They are using a young woman who is unwell and has admitted to using drugs to criminalize me,” Mr. Nwoko said, describing the situation as a “coordinated gang-up” by what he called a “syndicate of pull-down-Ned.”
The senator’s remarks come amid growing public scrutiny of his marriage to Ms. Daniels, a Nollywood star whom he married in 2019. The union, which drew attention due to their age difference and Mr. Nwoko’s status as a polygamist, has been the subject of renewed speculation following reports of marital strain.
Ms. Montana, in a statement posted to Instagram, denied the allegations, calling them “false and malicious.” “I have no connection to the situation described,” she wrote. “This note is simply to set the record straight and protect my peace.”
Ms. Nancy has not publicly responded to the accusations.
Mr. Nwoko further clarified that Ms. Daniels was 19 years old at the time of their marriage, not 17 as some critics have claimed. “Our customs and traditions do not frown upon polygamy,” he said. “I married her honorably, gave her a name, and treated her with dignity.”
The controversy has ignited debate across Nigeria’s social media platforms and entertainment circles. Some commentators have defended Ms. Montana and Ms. Nancy, while others have called for legal action if the allegations are unfounded.
“Uche Montana was minding her business when stray bullets hit her. Nollywood is wild,” wrote entertainment blogger Stella Dimoko Korkus. A Lagos-based attorney, Chuka Okoye, warned that “public accusations without due process could amount to defamation.”
Ms. Daniels has not commented publicly on the matter. Her representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
As the dispute unfolds, it has become a flashpoint in Nigeria’s broader conversation about celebrity, politics, and the boundaries of public accountability.
